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MISSISSAUGA, ON--(Marketwired - May 30, 2016) - Canada's Diabetes Hope Foundation (DHF), a charity created by a compassionate mother dedicated to supporting young people with diabetes and their families, announces the 42 recipients of its 2016 Scholarship from all across Canada. DHF's flagship, the Scholarship program, has awarded 590 scholarships since its inception in 1999 and has evolved to include a mentorship element leveraging the strength and experiences of past scholarship recipients to help other young adults navigate the complexities and challenges of embarking on post secondary education while living with diabetes.

"Having grown from awarding four scholarships to students in 1999, DHF is proud to announce 42 recipients for 2016. We're grateful to our generous donors and dedicated volunteers who help us to propel even more young people with diabetes towards post-secondary education and reaching their full potential," said Barbara Pasternak, founder of Diabetes Hope Foundation. "Congratulations to this year's awe-inspiring scholarship recipients and thank you to the fabulous alumni who 'pay it forward' by mentoring the next generation so they are ready to be tomorrow's leaders."

"I had ambitious goals as a high school student and athlete and I wasn't going to let diabetes stand in my way," said Greg MacNeill, guest speaker at the Scholarship awards evening and bronze medal winner in the 110m hurdles at the 2009 IAAF World Youth Championships. "Though diabetes poses additional challenges, I am so grateful to have received a DHF Scholarship in 2010 which supported me during my transition to post-secondary education, and I am proud to be a mentor and inspire others to pursue their dreams regardless of the hurdles in their way."

This unique scholarship awards program recognizes what no other program does: that young people living with diabetes must have an unwavering commitment to managing their health. Once an adolescent reaches the age of 18, they are transitioning from pediatric care to a more self-directed adult health care program. Diabetes Hope Foundation created its flagship scholarship program to encourage young adults with diabetes to continue their education and to provide financial and peer to peer support to supplement this already financially and emotionally demanding time in their lives as they move into post-secondary education.

Since 1999, Diabetes Hope Foundation has invested over $1.7 million in education grants to support communities across Canada. With support from the foundation's families, community partners, and generous sponsors, Diabetes Hope Foundation has awarded over 590 scholarships to support students with diabetes to attend 69 post-secondary institutions globally; including 8 provinces in Canada, 7 US states, Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the West Indies.

The Diabetes Hope Mentorship program connects DHF scholarship alumni with current year scholarship recipients to encourage them to work together to provide a safety net to support youth during their transition to post-secondary education as they move away from home, their primary caregivers and their pediatric diabetes healthcare. The alumni volunteers share best practices for managing their diabetes independently, sharing all the advice and tips they wish they had access to when they started their post secondary journey. The alumni develop leadership skills, a friendship and a strong personal and professional network through Diabetes Hope Foundation's alumni events.

The DHF Scholarship program was established to recognize youth in the community who have excelled in their academic achievements; demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and volunteerism in the community; and possess exemplary diabetes self-management practices. The challenges and triumphs of these teens are chronicled through the personal stories in their entrance essays. In the midst of controlling their blood glucose levels, the students overcome personal obstacles, achieve academic excellence, dominate sport and music and are active members of the community.

This year's DHF Scholarship recipients will begin their post-secondary studies in the fall of 2016. In October 2016, the annual application window will open for the DHF Scholarship program inviting applications for young people with diabetes looking forward to making their own healthy and successful transition to post-secondary education in 2017. Diabetes Hope Foundation Diabetes Hope Foundation provides educational, emotional and financial support to young people and their families managing this high maintenance disease. In addition to its flagship Scholarship Program and its associated Alumni Mentorship Program, Diabetes Hope Foundation offers a Youth-in-Transition program and Diabetes Youth Retreats.

Diabetes Hope Foundation grew up with a generation of kids diagnosed with diabetes and has matured with them and today supports young people and their families as they graduate to adult care. Founded in 1999 by Barbara Pasternak after learning two of her three sons developed diabetes, the Diabetes Hope Foundation has raised over $9 million to support over 2,300 children and youth living with diabetes and their families. To learn more about the Diabetes Hope Foundation, visit http://diabeteshopefoundation.com.